Finding into death of Grant Phillip Scheibner

IN THE CORONERS COURT

OF VICTORIA AT MELBOURNE

Court Reference: COR 2014 4805

FINDING INTO DEATH WITH INQUEST

Form 37 Rule 60(1) Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008

Inquest into the Death of: Grant Phillip SCHEIBNER

Delivered On: Delivered At:

Hearing Date: Findings of:

Representation:

Coroner’s Assistant

23 April 2015

Coroners Court of Victoria

65 Kavanagh Strect Southbank 3006 Victoria 23 April 2015

IAIN WEST, DEPUTY STATE CORONER

Sonja Mileska

1 of 3

I, IAIN TRELOAR WEST, Deputy State Coroner having investigated the death of Grant Phillip

SCHEIBNER

AND having held an inquest in relation to this death on 23 April 2015 at MELBOURNE find that the identity of the deceased was Grant Phillip SCHEIBNER born on 19 September 1951 and the death occurred on 18 September 2014 at Ballarat Health Services-Ballarat Base Hospital, Drummond Street North, Ballarat 3350 Victoria from: 1 (a) PNEUMONIA IN A MAN WITH MULTIPLE COMORBIDITIES

in the following circumstances:

1. Grant Scheibner was a 62 year old man who resided in a Department of Human Services care facility in Stawell Victoria. He was the brother of Ms Michelle Scheibner.

2. Mr Scheibner had a medical history including severe dementia (likely Alzheimer’s), Down’s syndrome, spina bifida occulta, irritable bowel syndrome, and C1/C2 cervical spine instability. He also had a supra pubic urinary catheter with recurrent urinary tract infections.

3. On 12 September 2014, Mr Scheibner was admitted to the Ballarat Base Hospital from Stawell Hospital for ongoing management of right lower lobe pneumonia. On examination he was distressed and febrile with a pulse of about 90 beats per minute. A chest x-ray suggested a bi-basal pneumonia and blood tests supported an infective process. Mr Scheibner was given antibiotics and active treatment.

4, Mr Scheibner remained stable over the first 2 days. On 15 September 2014, he was reviewed by consultant Dr David Song and it was planned to change his antibiotics from intravenous to oral and investigate a possible return to Stawell Hospital. However, over the course of the day, Mr Scheibner’s condition deteriorated. At assessment that evening it was noted that his respiratory rate and oxygen requirements had increased. Intravenous fluids and antibiotics were ceased and Mr Scheibner was administered analgesia as required.

5, Further review occurred on 16 September 2014 by Dr Leigh Beveridge. Mr Scheibner’s respiratory function had worsened and he was unresponsive. He was assessed as being preterminal and was prescribed comfort care,

6, Mr Scheibner’s condition deteriorated over 18 September 2014. A medical entry made at 3am indicated that he was Cheyne-Stoke breathing and was unresponsive. At 7.50am, Mr Scheibner was declared deceased.

7. Forensic Pathology Fellow Dr Joanna Glengarry from the Victorian Institute of Forensic _ Medicine performed an external examination of Mr Scheibner and provided a written report of her findings. The examination showed phenotypic features of Down’s syndrome and there was no evidence of violence or injury of a type likely to have caused or contributed to the death.

20f3

8. I find that the cause of death of Grant Scheibner was pneumonia in man with multiple comorbidities.

I direct that a copy of this finding be provided to the following: Ms Michelle Scheibner

First Constable Lee Brown, Ballarat Police Station

Signature:

IAIN WEST DEPUTY STATE CORONER Date: 23 April 2015

3 of 3